Category Archives: Competitive Edge

How to Keep Employees Happy, Boost Morale and Reduce Stress During an Economic Downturn

One of the primary concerns that businesses have these days is simple: it’s all about determining how to keep employees happy. No matter how stable your company is despite the economy, your staff will have concerns and uncertainty and financial stresses. Unfortunately that stress is something that can be carried into the workplace and affect everyone.

Part of understanding how to keep employees happy during an economic downturn, therefore, involves making a concerted effort to keep your staff motivated. Knowing how to keep employees happy during a tough economy is to focus on the tools that you can use to ensure that they recognize that their jobs are secure. In order to make sure that you are able to keep the members of your staff focused, excited about work and feeling secure that the company is doing well, there are a number of options to take into consideration.

In an economic downturn, obviously, you aren’t going to want to throw elaborate parties to show appreciation to your staff. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot show them that you value their commitment and are committed to their successes as well.

One option that you will want to consider involves ongoing training. When you have staff members who are able to work in a wider variety of capacities, you are able to build a more tightly knit team – a team of employees who can work together to solve problems and get the job done, who can pitch in when other staff members need a hand.

Similarly, you will find that there are benefits to looking outside of the immediate on the job training that can be done to keep your staff invested. By looking into continuing education training and functions as part of how to keep employees happy – such as a group volunteer project in the community – that enhance the personal development of your staff, you will find that you are able to bring your staff members together.

Ultimately, the most important thing that you can do when you want to ensure that your staffs are happy is to focus on them – not just on the bottom line. By showing that you are as committed to their development and happiness as you are to the business, you can be sure that your employees feel connected. The more that your staff see that you have made the commitment to ongoing training and to their continued success, the more that they will continue to give you their best work.

During an economic downturn, there is going to be stress – and that stress is going to come into the workplace. The more that you are focused on how to keep your staff happy and the more that you are able to focus on helping them to gain additional skills and to contribute on a broader level, the better the position that you will be in – and the better that they will feel about facing the day when their alarm goes off in the morning.
Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

The Effect of the Economic Woes and Wellness in the Workplace

Turning on the television and watching the news at the end of the workday used to be a way to catch up on what happened while workers were in the office. These days, however, with the focus of much of the news being on the current economic crisis, workers are having more trouble separating themselves from what they are hearing. As a result, there is an increasing amount of tension in the workplace.

In addition to economic woes hitting your workers, however, you are going to find that the tightening of the economy , coupled with rising costs associated with health care and cost of living , has an impact on your business. While you are going to want to be sure that you are doing what you can to reduce costs in the workplace, it is essential that you are able to provide your employees with the benefits that they expect and with the support that they need to ride out the economic crisis.

As a result, if you are looking for ways in which you will be able to reduce costs to your business, you are going to need to think about your staff members and then, rather than simply looking at health care programs, you might want to consider implementing wellness programs. With wellness programs there are a number of benefits. Here are the two most significant:

During an economic crisis and other times of high stress, wellness programs in the workplace serve to reduce tension for your employees. With yoga or other fitness classes available for example, you will find that you are able to give your staff members an outlet and provide them with a healthier lifestyle.

During an economic crisis, and particularly when health care costs are high, you will find that wellness programs in the workplace serve to cut down on the expenses of health care. After all, wellness programs focus not only on reducing stress, but also on your staff members’ overall health. This attention to prevention will help to reduce the costs associated with health care over the long term.

When you offer wellness programs in the workplace, you will find that your staff members are in a better position to cope with their stress. When your employees are less stressed out, they are going to be more productive at the office and there will be a reduction in the amount of time that your staff call out sick or otherwise need time off.

By focusing on the health and well-being of your staff members, particularly during times of high stress and the current economic crisis, you are going to find that you are in a better position to keep your business growing and moving forward. By helping your staff to take care of themselves, they will be able to contribute more to the business and everyone involved will be in a better position to get through the economic crisis. Economic woes can have a dramatic impact on morale, but so can those efforts that will enable your staff to reduce their stress.

Searching for Future Leaders in your Organization?

Are you searching for future leaders in your organization? Before advertising a new position, look within the office walls first. With attention to mentoring and leadership development, any organization will benefit from leaders that have the knowledge required and the best interests of the company at heart.

The Positive Impact on the Organization
Any growing business must constantly consider the direction of the company, including short-term and long-term goals. It’s important to plan for success and the inevitable changes that will occur over time. Workers will move, retire, or simply seek a position better suiting their personal needs.

Rather than being caught off guard, when the business undergoes change, it’s better to prepare for shifts in the workforce. Such preparation doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Instead, it can ultimately have a positive impact on the organization. By implementing a mentoring program, future leaders are:

Prepared to fill the shoes of a predecessor

Dedicated to performance advancement within the company

Loyal to the company and its goals

An active participant in the training of subordinates

For a company to grow and prosper, it’s important for every employee, from management down, to see their position as integral part of the total success of the organization. Mentoring is an excellent resource for leadership development and achievement of this goal.

Mentoring Saves on Recruitment and Training
Before dismissing mentoring as a great tool for building future leaders, consider how it saves on recruitment and training. Many companies spend thousands, if not millions, of dollars on educating and training employees. Oftentimes, it means additional travel expenses and lost productivity. In addition, the classes and seminars are not always geared to the specific needs of the organization.

Taking advantage of mentoring in leadership development is beneficial because:

Experienced Personnel train new employees

The employee advancing trains replacement

Loyal, hardworking employees are preparing for advancement

Valued employees are likely to remain

Productivity loss is minimized, if an employee is gone

Mentors know the organization

In short, who better to train a new employee than the person who is preparing to move up in the company? Employees have a vested interest in mentoring, because they are essentially training a future subordinate.

Developing Committed and Seasoned Leaders
Leadership development and mentoring is a constantly ongoing process, within a progressive company. The learning process continues, as all of the employees experience growth. Then, when the time comes for advancement within the organization, the employees have developed into committed and seasoned leaders.

No one is thrust into a new position, without the knowledge and training necessary to perform new duties. The learning curve for current employees is greatly reduced, and the period of adjustment to the practices and goals of an organization is eliminated altogether.

Mentoring growth within the company also fosters employees that are committed to the success of the organization. Not only are they ready to advance as leaders, mentoring employees have invested a lot in professional growth and prosperity. Essentially, it feels like ‘their’ company.

So, why spend a lot of money and lose productivity in outsourcing the search for future leaders? Set up a formal mentoring program, and create the resource from within, while developing long-term loyal workers who desire to see their company succeed.

Mentoring is the Answer to Diversity Initiatives in Your Organization

Never before in the history of mankind has the world been more mobile. People are constantly moving, in search of better opportunities. International relocations, for improved employment opportunities are also more common. As a result, the workplace is becoming more diverse every day; and, it’s important to see these differences as an asset, not a liability. Thus, mentoring is the answer to diversity initiatives in your organization.

Mentoring Enhances Workplace Diversity

When asked to consider the topic of workplace diversity, most people first think of race and religious beliefs. But, it’s much more than the differences in skin color or an individual’s views regarding a higher power. People are different in so many ways, including:

Culture

Gender

Personal Interests

Learning Styles

Communication Skills

Personal Values

Teaching people to accept one another, and utilize workplace diversity is what diversity initiatives are all about; and mentoring is the answer to creating a solid workforce.

Consider the following scenario:

Jane has been working for company X for 10 years. Because of her experience, she is chosen to mentor a new employee. Having 3 children of her own, she is the motherly sort, but she also knows how to get the job done. She attends church regularly and frequently volunteers for community events. Jane’s coworkers describe her as very loyal and straight-laced.

Jane has been assigned to mentor Susan who appears different in every conceivable way. She is more of a loner, with a slight chip on her shoulder. She is not very trusting of people, because no one in her life has earned that privilege. She has multi-colored hair, likes heavy metal music, and has never held a job for more than a year.

Amazingly, as Jane mentors Susan, subtle changes begin to take place. Over time, Susan learns that some people are worthy or trust and respect. Jane always seems to be there, when she needs something or has a question. On the other hand, Jane learns that Susan is a hard worker, a fast learner, and eager to find a place to belong. A sense of camaraderie and friendship has developed between two people that normal would have avoided one another in the past.

Of course, Jane and Susan are totally fictitious. But, the example is meant to describe how people so different can benefit from mentoring and managing diversity in the workplace.

The Upside to Managing Diversity in the Workplace

Managing diversity in the workplace benefits both the employees and the management. Without acceptance of differences, within the office, it’s almost impossible to get things done and grow a business. Everyone is only concerned about his/her position, with little thought to how each job contributes to the success of any organization.

However, when a mentoring program is instituted, it brings about many positive changes:

Feel valued

Employees learn from one another

Strengths are discovered and better utilized

Employees bond and work together for a common goal

Management saves on the cost of training new employees

Management prepares employees for advancement

The organization is more productive and profitable

Employee turnaround is slowed

In short, mentoring creates a more positive environment in the workplace. Employees learn from one another and may discover new ways to approach old problems. Management gains a more loyal and cohesive group of workers, while saving money on the cost of education and training. Workplace diversity becomes an asset to the productivity and growth of an organization.

Are Managers Mentors?

“Are managers mentors?” is probably one of the most common questions in the corporate workplace today. While a good manager should have mentorship qualities, and the ability to get the most potential productivity from subordinates, are both roles possible for a supervisor? Some executives think it’s not only possible, but necessary. Others believe the two roles must remain completely separate, in order to be truly effective.

Why the Debate

Why the debate over managing and mentoring? According to the American Heritage Dictionary the job of a mentor is “to serve as a trusted counselor or teacher, especially in occupational settings”. Doesn’t a good manager possess these same talents and job skills?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so clear cut. Some professionals believe a manager must be separate and apart from the mentoring role. While a mentor is nurturing and encouraging, a manager must maintain the leadership role and make sure the company’s business goals are met, which mean that a new employee is likely to be very uncomfortable learning under the tutelage of the individual ultimately in charge of worker retention. Thus, a mentoring program works best when the mentor and mentee are peers.

Defining the Role of Manager vs. Mentor

For the companies choosing to define the specific roles of manager and mentor, it is a good idea to have a check list of duties and responsibilities. Since both are ultimately interested in the success of the new hire, it’s not difficult to image stepping on each other’s toes and performing certain tasks twice. Conversely, it’s is also possible that certain aspects of the mentoring program will be neglected, assuming the other person is taking care of that particular detail.

As an example, the manager checklist may include such tasks as:

Assessment of job performance for certification or continued employment

Maintaining a position of authority and legal obligations to the company and the mentee

The manager is generally focused on the day-to-day performance and productivity of the new hire

In essence, a manager is more concerned about the outcome of the new employee’s performance, rather than the processes taken to achieve the company goals.

On the other hand, a peer mentor remembers what it’s like to start in a new position and learn the daily operations. While mentoring means helping a new coworker achieve his/her duties as expected by the management, the approach is more personal and caring.

As an example, the mentor checklist may include such tasks as:

The mentor implements a plan to achieve professional goals, but helps the new hire to self assess and evaluate how to improve his/her performance.

A good mentor compassionately encourages, coaches, challenges, and teaches, based upon his/her own personal experience and expertise.

A mentor is generally more concerned with the long-term goal of developing an employee worth retaining, rather than the day-to-day productivity.

In short, the manager and mentorship roles do intersect on occasion, when it comes to training and retaining talented employees. But, each role also maintains very distinct differences in approach and the main goal. Unfortunately, the question still remains: Are managers mentors? Every company must choose the answer for themselves.

Mentoring in the Workplace Plays a Vital Role in Corporate Training

You’ve been hired with a new company. Your trainer is moving up, moving on, or moving out of the business. If you are lucky, the person being replaced will be around for at least a couple of weeks to train in the various duties of the position. Sometimes, the person has already left or has only a couple of days to show you the ropes. In order to make the transition as smooth as possible, without losing workplace productivity, many companies have discovered a vital tool. Mentoring in the workplace plays a vital role in corporate training and employee retention.

Shared Experiences

Mentoring employees is an excellent method used to increase employee productivity. Businesses will naturally be more successful, if they work like a well-oiled machine. Coworkers exchange knowledge and ideas, in order to improve performance for all. For example, the new employee brings previous experiences and ideas to the table. Likewise, the more seasoned employees share information about the business and how duties have been carried out to this point. Mentoring makes sure that no one is left high and dry, and basically an island unto themselves in the workplace.

An Ongoing Process

Generally, training commences for a week or two; then, the new employee is left to figure out any confusing job related issues alone. Meaningful engagement may not be truly accomplished for weeks. However, employees mentoring employees is essential to build connections across people. For example, if a new hire has a question or problem, who will be the best resource to successfully complete a project; or what people will make the best team to create and develop a venture that will benefit the company and increase employee productivity? It is an ongoing process that ultimately enables a company to rise above the competition.

Building Relationships

Essentially, workplace mentoring is all about building relationships. Not only does the sharing of knowledge and experiences help increase employee productivity, but it will also improve how well employees work together. An engaged employee is a productive employee. Positive work relationships are a positive benefit for everyone in the office. If people work well together and have developed great relationships through mentoring, employee turnover is also likely to be reduced. Not only does it save the expense of training a new employee so often, but workplace productivity will continue to improve as well.

In summary, mentoring in the workplace does play a vital role in corporate training. Several benefits will ultimately help a business become more profitable. Conversely, there is no downside to improving workplace productivity, building important connections between employees, sharing knowledge and experience, and making sure that all of the employees are engaged as part of a team with a common goal. It is a win-win situation for everyone.

Training is only temporary and often not sufficient to create a comfortable employee in a new workplace. Regardless of the level of understanding and engagement, the sessions come to an abrupt end. However, workplace mentoring is an ongoing process that continues and is paid forward, when another new employee joins a successful team.

Transitioning New Employees into the Workplace with Employee Mentoring Programs

Hiring new employees is a very different experience for different companies. In some cases, there are challenges because of diversity issues and cases in which there are concerns about whether or not the fit will be right – especially when the company is hiring someone younger to lead a department rather than looking to those employees who have been with the business. In other cases, however, it is remarkably easy to transition new employees into the workplace, and often this is the direct result of having employee mentoring programs put into place.

Employee mentoring programs simplify the process of transitioning new employees into the workplace on a number of levels.

First, employee mentoring programs help to ensure that when new employees are brought into the workplace they aren’t just going to be given a desk and a stack of tasks to complete – left on their own to figure out the best possible approach to doing the work and not being sure of whom to go to when they have questions. Instead, with employee mentoring programs in place, new hires are connected with an employee who is already on the team, has experience doing the work and who will be there to provide guidance about the tasks at hand, company policies and the best ways to get things done.

Similarly, employee mentoring programs are effective for transitioning new employees into the workplace because the programs foster both relationships and confidence. Employee mentoring programs help a new hire to get to know his or her new coworkers and to establish connections. Those connections along with the support that shows that they are picking up on the requirements of the job and the knowledge that – as additional employees are brought on they will rise to the position of mentor – their contributions will be recognized and rewarded.

Because these new employees will know that their efforts will be rewarded as they learn the job, they will develop a sense of job security as well. The more that their efforts are recognized and the more comfortable that they are with getting the job done, the more that these staff members will be able to contribute. As they are able to work their way up within the company, they will further develop loyalty to the business – and they will be able to continue to take advantage of employee mentoring programs so that they will learn each job responsibility just as easily as they initially did.

With employee mentoring programs in place, therefore, businesses will find that they are able to groom staff members from the time that they are hired until they have reached their career goals. Likewise, companies with employee mentoring programs in place will find that their staff members form better relationships, to be more comfortable with doing their jobs and to know that there is a place where they will be able to grow and thrive. Simply put, employee mentoring programs simplify the process of transitioning new staff into the business and ensuring that, once there, they’ll want to stick around.

Use Mentoring with Team Building to Achieve Strong Teams

Whether you are a fan of baseball, football, soccer or basketball, one of the things that you’ll notice is that only the teams that work well together are able to come out on top. As you strive to achieve all the goals you have set for your business, one of the things that you’re going to want to take a closer look at is company team building. Team building is not a single effort; it’s not something that you can try to tackle just once and hope it sticks, just as a coach who is trying to lead a team to the World Series, the Super Bowl, the World Cup tournament or basketball’s finals can’t schedule a single practice and expect the team to do the rest. With company team building, however, you’ll find that you do not need to be the only coach.

By taking the time to develop a mentoring strategy and involving those who have been with your company the longest, you’ll discover a variety of team building activities that can take place. For those employees who are new to the company, being paired with a mentor who has been there, who knows the “rules of the game,” and who understands the best practices for reaching company goals is like having a team captain, a teammate and a cheerleader all rolled into one.

For those who have been on staff longer, a mentoring program helps to open the door to learning new techniques or new technologies For example, protégés can teach their mentors how to use social networking tools more effectively. Those who have experience and are willing to learn from others on the team will find that they are able to do their work with greater ease, and they are able to accomplish more.

The key benefit of mentoring and company team building is the ability to draw workers together – and to make sure that they are finding support when they need it. By making sure that your staff members all feel supported and are able to recognize that they are part of something bigger – part of a team – you can rest assured that they will remain committed to reaching the goals that you’ve set forth for the company.

Having a job is one thing – especially given the overall economy. However, for those who are looking at what they can do to give their employees a sense of purpose and not just a steady paycheck, it’s important to focus on creating an investment in the business. Mentoring and team building activities that bring the staff together and allow everyone to work toward a common goal will not only help to create strong teams, but they will also lead to continued strength for your business.

How a Corporate Mentoring Program Prepares Employees for Success

In business, making sure that you are taking steps to ensure your company’s continued success is important. One of the best steps that you can take when you want to know that your staff members have what it takes to keep things running smoothly is to implement a corporate mentoring program.

Rather than a more traditional training program, you’ll find that a corporate mentoring program:

Ensures that new employees ,whether they are new to the business or simply new to a specific department , know to whom they can turn whenever they have a question.

Enables continuity in the ways in which your customers or clients receive their services. With employee mentoring programs, what you are going to find is that more experienced staff are helping those with less experience to learn more about the ways in which things are done and why they are done a particular way. Though it’s also true that a newer staff member may be able to contribute better ways of doing things, with a corporate mentoring program, sharing resources and tools happens naturally.

Encourages communication about strengths and discussion of key projects.

Allows relationships to build and for members working within the same department to form strong teams.

Team building is an essential step when you want to prepare your employees for success. Employee mentoring programs help each staff member to learn more about the company and to become a part of a team. By taking the time to celebrate the strengths of key staff members while helping those who are new to the department to learn more about why things are the way they are, you can be sure that you’re creating an environment in which staff members are comfortable turning to one another.

Knowing that you have focused on creating strong teams with a corporate mentoring program is going to allow you to know that your staff have ongoing support. Additionally, you will find that members of the team are able to look at more efficient ways of completing projects, can communicate more effectively with one another and can better identify strategies that will improve the services that your company provides to your customers and clients.

In other words, by looking into the benefits of employee. mentoring programs and focusing on the best way to bring such a program into your business, you can rest assured that your clients and customers are getting the attention that they deserve. You’ll also know that your staff members are on-board and are committed to your company’s success.

A corporate mentoring program, therefore, in one part training program and one part investment in the future of your business. When you know that your staff members are receiving the guidance and support that they need and that everyone on the team is focused on creating a better atmosphere, you will also find increased job satisfaction and, along with it, less of a need for training. As a result, you’ll know that everyone on your staff is ready to rise to the occasion and to contribute to the continuing success of your company.

Team Building Benefits When Team Members Coach Each Other

Businesses that consistently perform at the top of their game often have one thing going for them that less successful companies don’t: a strong team. Because of this, businesses that are looking for the chance to take a larger hold within their markets are going to want to look into team building activities and options. Coaching and mentoring in the workplace – just like on a sports field – are extremely beneficial for team building.

What are the benefits of team building that come from having members coach one another?

Coaching and mentoring encourages staff members to make a connection. When you’re able to bring together employees across generations, employees who have different skill sets and ideas, you’ll find that relationships form and employees are able to count on one another.

By encouraging members of your staff to both coach and be coached, you’ll find that everyone is continuing to learn. Building a team will benefit your business because employees are going to recognize that everyone has something to contribute, and each staffer – from those at an entry level right up to the executives – will recognize that they have somewhere to turn when they feel a bit stuck. Most importantly, this contributes to keeping fresh ideas coming.

Coaching allows employees to receive praise for what they are doing well. Ultimately, it’s important to make sure that your staff get recognition for those things that they are doing well and not just hearing about the areas where they can improve; when staff members know that their accomplishments are recognized and know that there’s value in what they are doing, not only are there benefits to the overall strength of the team, but also individual employees want to keep putting in their best efforts.

Building a strong team benefits a business in that, just as they would on a sports field, your staff members will be in a position to cheer one another on, to problem solve when necessary and to recognize that when each member of the team succeeds, the entire team finds success.
In other words, coaching and mentoring in the workplace create a foundation for solid teamwork and an environment in which everyone wants to succeed. The more that your staff is brought together and recognizes that they are a team, the more that they will be able to contribute. The more that your staff are able to contribute within the office on their own and with their teams (and, the better that they feel about coming into work in the morning), the more that will be accomplished.

Team building, therefore, is a vital component to having a thriving business. Strong teams are able to problem solve, lead from within, and to focus on bringing your staff together. When your staff members recognize business goals and are focused on helping one another succeed, you’ll find that they are more productive, more present, and more committed to the success of your company – it really is as simple as that.